METHODS: A panel of 74 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncturists participated in clinical issue investigation. Subsequently, systematic reviews concerning acupuncture for IBS were screened within 3 databases. An initial consensus questionnaire was formed from the results of clinical issue investigation and literature review. Ultimately, a Delphi vote was carried out to determine these issues. 30 authoritative experts with extensive experience were requested to respond with agreement, neutrality, or disagreement for the items. Consensus achievement on a given item was defined as greater than 80% agreement.
RESULTS: Following a 2-round Delphi survey, there were 19 items reaching consensus; of which 5 items (26.32%) achieved thorough consensus, and significant agreement was reached for the other 14 items. These items can be classified into the 3 major domains: 1) clinical outcomes that acupuncture can bring for favorable intervention population (5 items), 2) suitable therapeutic principles and parameters of acupuncture (13 items), 3) possible adverse events in the treatment (1 item).
CONCLUSIONS: Without any ready-made guidelines and lacking of homogeneity in the published literatures, such expert consensus could be valuable for TCM acupuncturists in daily practice and patients with IBS to obtain appropriate and standardized acupuncture treatment. In addition, it also points out the clinical focus which need to be further explored in future trials.
■由74名中医针灸师组成的小组参与了临床问题调查。随后,在3个数据库中筛选了有关针灸治疗IBS的系统综述.根据临床问题调查和文献综述的结果,形成初步共识问卷。最终,进行了德尔菲投票以确定这些问题。请30名具有丰富经验的权威专家同意作出回应,中立,或不同意的项目。在给定项目上达成共识被定义为超过80%的协议。
■经过两轮德尔福调查,有19个项目达成共识;其中5个项目(26.32%)达成彻底共识,其他14个项目达成了重要协议。这些项目可以分为3个主要领域:1)针灸可以为有利的干预人群带来的临床结果(5个项目),2)合适的针灸治疗原则和参数(13项),3)治疗中可能发生的不良事件(1项)。
■没有任何现成的指南,并且在已发表的文献中缺乏同质性,这种专家共识对于中医针灸师的日常实践和IBS患者获得适当和规范的针灸治疗具有重要意义。此外,它还指出了在未来试验中需要进一步探索的临床重点。